--- Quote ---Plus, the private space industry hasn’t been very enthusiastic about using the ISS either — for research or for profit. “Candidly, the scant commercial interest shown in the station over its nearly 20 years of operation gives us pause about the agency’s current plans,” Martin said at the hearing.

--- End quote ---

--- Quote ---However, Martin said today that transitioning the ISS to the private sector probably wouldn’t save NASA that much money, anyway.

--- End quote ---

Thoughts?

QuantumG:
Nanoracks does a pretty good business... but most people prefer to go through CASIS and get a free ride.

yg1968:
Here's the Senate hearing on which the article is based:

Examining the Future of the International Space Station: Administration Perspectiveshttps://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=9B168E39-CF8D-426E-BE8E-B3950F517BD6

yg1968:

--- Quote from: Coastal Ron on 05/17/2018 01:28 AM ---An article by Loren Grush on The Verge about a NASA Inspector General opinion about Trump's plan to privatize the ISS by 2025:

--- Quote ---Plus, the private space industry hasn’t been very enthusiastic about using the ISS either — for research or for profit. “Candidly, the scant commercial interest shown in the station over its nearly 20 years of operation gives us pause about the agency’s current plans,” Martin said at the hearing.

--- End quote ---

--- Quote ---However, Martin said today that transitioning the ISS to the private sector probably wouldn’t save NASA that much money, anyway.

--- End quote ---

Thoughts?

--- End quote ---

I will have to watch Martin's assessment for myself but this is a very poor characterization of the ISS' transition plans. The plan is to handover the ISS to a private entity that would manage it or (more likely) replace it with a commercial habitat module, so that NASA can buy services for a LEO research module for a fixed fee. It's essentially the same thing as CRS but for a LEO habitat. The 2025 date isn't set in stone.

butters:

--- Quote from: yg1968 on 05/17/2018 03:04 AM ------ Quote from: Coastal Ron on 05/17/2018 01:28 AM ---An article by Loren Grush on The Verge about a NASA Inspector General opinion about Trump's plan to privatize the ISS by 2025:

--- Quote ---Plus, the private space industry hasn’t been very enthusiastic about using the ISS either — for research or for profit. “Candidly, the scant commercial interest shown in the station over its nearly 20 years of operation gives us pause about the agency’s current plans,” Martin said at the hearing.

--- End quote ---

--- Quote ---However, Martin said today that transitioning the ISS to the private sector probably wouldn’t save NASA that much money, anyway.

--- End quote ---

Thoughts?

--- End quote ---

I will have to watch Martin's assessment for myself but this is a very poor characterization of the ISS' transition plans. The plan is to handover the ISS to a private entity that would manage it or (more likely) replace it with a commercial habitat module, so that NASA can buy services for a LEO research module for a fixed fee. It's essentially the same thing as CRS but for a LEO habitat. The 2025 date isn't set in stone.

--- End quote ---

But why would any private entity want to assume the operating costs of space station where NASA is going to be the anchor customer and can dictate requirements in exchange for fixed payments? I'd hardly feel sorry for the fool who signs that contract.